MEN: Hands off Aguero!

It may only be ten days since the last transfer window shut, but it seems the press are already thinking about the summer.

Most stories involving Sergio Aguero, Real Madrid and Barcelona haven’t exactly made for pleasant reading over the last few years but fear not – this time it’s just City warning the two La Liga sides to keep their hands off him.

The striker is in sensational form this season, and were he not currently on the sidelines with injury it would be a sensible bet that he would have added to his already magnificent tally of 26 for the season.

“Barcelona and Real Madrid have both been eyeing up Aguero as he has led City’s stunning attacking blitz this season with 26 goals, and have made overtures about buying the player through their favoured media outlets.

“Reports in Spain suggest that Madrid president Florentino Perez broached the subject of Aguero with City chief executive Ferran Soriano lately and was given a firm refusal.”

That SHOULD be that then…(but no doubt won’t be).

Elsewhere, Everton are said to have moved into pole position to grab alleged City target, Ayoze Perez.

Reports Tom Hopkinson: “The Everton boss has received glowing feedback on the forward from his scouts in Spain and moves are being made to see if a deal can be done to bring the player to the Premier League in the summer.

“Ayoze will cost the club around £1.5million from the debt-ridden Spanish second division side.

“Manchester City, along with Spanish club Sevilla and Germans Schalke, have also watched the player this season.

“But Everton are the only club to make firm contact with Tenerife.”

There’s a long way to go, and a lot of football to be played, before the window blasts wide open again, but in the meantime remember that when it does open we’ll be the first with any confirmed deals right here on mcfc.co.uk.

As ever, of course!

Finally, Jose Mourinho is back in the headlines and he’s got another metaphor for us. Perhaps City are not a horse (of any size) any more, but the Chelsea boss reckons they still have quite a lot of horsepower – he’s comparing Pellegrini’s men to a Jaguar this time.

"Manchester City is a Jaguar. You cannot put an L-plate behind a Jaguar. We are what we are and we know where we want to go and this season, we have only one objective, which is to finish top four.”

These metaphors are getting a bit confusing now, to be honest….

City take on Sunderland in the Premier League on Wednesday 12 February in what will be a dress rehearsal for the Capital One Cup Final in March.

Can the Blues avenge the Stadium of Light defeat earlier this season? A night match under the lights at the Etihad and a preview of the forthcoming final - demand is expected to be high as Manuel Pellegrini's side attempt to continue their incredible run.